Three bestselling authors are in Liverpool to celebrate the new over-40s heroines of fiction

Alexandra Potter, Jane Costello and Millie Johnson have all made it onto the Sunday Times bestseller list with their novels.

The three bestselling authors are bringing a ‘funny, frank and fabulous’ night to Liverpool this October, celebrating the rise of over-40s heroines in fiction.

Together they’ve been translated into more than 25 different languages and sold millions of copies around the world.

Now they’re coming to Liverpool with a special event to discuss books, romantic comedy and why midlife women’s fiction is having a moment.

With a new Bridget Jones film confirmed and Bridget now just turned 50, the spotlight in books has definitely shifted towards women dealing with real life midlife issues.

There’s still dating and relationships, but they’re likely to come with the added complication of ex-wives and stepkids, as well as different career challenges and just the general pressure of getting older in a social media world of apparently ageless perfection.

Alexandra, Jane and Millie’s most recent novels all have relatable 40-something heroines, juggling it all and working out what exactly to do when life doesn’t quite go to plan. 

Alexandra’s More Confessions of a Forty-something F*** Up is the much-anticipated follow-up to her huge international hit, Confessions of a Forty Something F*** Up.

Featuring lead character Nell, who’s been described as ‘the new Bridget Jones for our times’, that became the inspiration for a major US TV series Not Dead Yet, streamed on Disney+ and starring Gina Rodriguez. 

Fellow Yorkshire author Millie is one of the UK’s best-loved novelists, selling more than three million books. Her latest is The Happiest Ever After, centred around a woman who starts writing a fictional feistier bolder version of herself after she’s cheated on by her partner, then unexpectedly ends up living the new life she created.

The third of the trio joining forces for the night is Liverpool-born author Jane Costello who has written 15 novels and been selected by the Richard & Judy Book Club. 

The release of Jane’s latest book, It’s Getting Hot In Here, coincides with the event at Oh Me Oh My on Thursday October 17, from 7pm.

It’s a funny and sexy romantic comedy with a 40-something heroine, Lisa, juggling motherhood, divorce, perimenopause, office attractions, endless to-do lists and a kettle that desperately needs de-scaling! 

Jane, who lives in south Liverpool, says Lisa is one of many over-40s women who are taking the lead in fiction right now.

“Once upon a time, to write a successful romantic comedy, the main character would have to be a young woman in her late twenties or early thirties, usually living in London and looking for Mr Right,” she says.

“But times have changed and there’s increasing recognition that women in their forties – who’ve done significantly more living – can be a lot more interesting to write about. 

“Between raising teenagers and the perimenopause, there’s certainly no shortage of material, which is one of the reasons our event on October 17 is going to be so much fun. 

“Milly and Alex are both terrifically entertaining so I can’t wait to join them on stage and meet as many readers as possible. It’ll be a riot and I think there’ll be quite a lot of ‘Oh thank god it’s just not just me’ moments!”

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